Toaster mechanism



April 17, 1962 PARR 3,029,725

TOASTER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 18, 1960 x if L2 T I A :9 z m '9 i 5e 1 I t 22 nvvzrv-ron BERNARD R FARR 'BYWTT ATTORNEZ United States Patent This invention relates to control mechanism for electric toasters, more particularly to control mechanism of the heat-up cool-down type, and has for an object to improve and simplify controls of this type.

Briefly, the present invention provides control mechanism including a latch lever pivoted at its lower end to a fixed support, the pivotal connection including an elongated slot providing for limited longitudinal movement of the latch lever between upper and lower positions. The latch lever has an upwardly facing latch surface and a downwardly facing latch surface. When the toaster carriage is lowered to the toasting position, against the biasing effect of the usual tension spring, a finger carried by the carriage is engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in that position. A bimetallic member, adapted to deflect when heated, is fixed at one end and carries at its free end a detent adapted to engage the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when the bimetallic member is cold to retain the latch lever in its lower position. Means are included for heating the bimetallic member, and when heated this member deflects to move the detent out of engagement with the upwardly facing latch surface to permit the latch lever to move to its upper position through force applied by the tension spring Which biases the toaster carriage toward its upper non-toasting position. This limited upward movement of the carriage renders ineffective the heating means for the bimetallic member so that the later cools and as i cools i deflects in the opposite direction to its original position. During its movement while cooling, its detent abuts the latch lever and pivots it about its pivotal mounting, thereby disengaging the downwardly facing latch surface from the carriage finger. With the finger released, the carriage is free to return'to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the tension spring.

The foregoing and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a toaster constructed in accordance with the present invention, the view being taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by-the arrows; v 'FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical circuit for the toaster of'the present invention; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are similar schematic illustrations of the control mechanism for the toaster of the present invention, the three figures showing different positions of the control mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated therein a toaster having a casing 10 including a sheet metal cover 11 of inverted U formation, together with end closures 12, preferably of plastic material, the plastic end closures including integral feet 13. The sheet metal portion 11 of the casing is provided with the usual pair of longitudinally extending slots 14 in the top for the insertion and removal of slices of bread to be toasted.

, The spacewithin the casing 10 is separated into a toasting compartment 16 and a control compartment 17 by a vertical transverse partition 18 having an upper horizontally extending flange 19 and a lower horizontally extending flange 21 disposed in parallel spaced apart relation. The lower horizontal flange 21 is secured, by any suitable means (not shown), to a base or frame 22 adjacent the bottom of the toaster.

A pair of posts or shafts 23 are disposed in side-by-side spaced relation and extend vertically between the upper flange 19 and the lower flange 21 of the vertical partition 18; These posts serve as supporting guides for a carriage 24 comprised by a vertical plate 26 having an upper horizon tal flange 27 and a lower horizontal flange 28 formed integral therewith and through which the posts 23 extend.

Bread support bars 31 are attached to, or formed integral with, the lower horizontal flange 28 of the carriage and project through pairs of slots 32 in the partition :18 and extend longitudinally of the toasting compartment directly below the elongated casing slots 14. The bread support bars 31 are provided with integral horizontally extending fingers 33 providing a supporting surface for slices of bread inserted through the casing slots 14.

The carriage 24, together with its associated bread supporting bars 31, is reciprocable vertically on the posts 23 between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position. When in the lowertoasting position, slices of bread resting on the support bars 31 are positioned between the usual sets of electrical heating elements 34'. A tension spring 36, secured at one end to the upper flange 1'9 of the vertical partition 18 and at its other end to the lower flange 28 of the carriage 24, serves to bias the carriage 24 to its upper non-toasting position.

In order to retain the carriage and the bread supported thereby in its lower toasting position against the biasing effect of the tension spring 36, there is provided the novel latching and control mechanism now to be described. The structure described heretofore may be considered conventional and other forms of carriage structure may be utilized'with equal facility.

' A manually operable lever 37 is pivotally connected to a bracket 38, fixed to the upper flange 27 of the carriage 24 and has one arm thereof extending forwardly through a vertical slot 39 in the adjacent end wall closure 12 of the casing. This projecting arm of the lever 37 is preferablyprovided with a finger piece or knob 41 by which the user may manipulate the lever 37.

The lever 37 carries a lug 42 projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to engage the lower edge of the supporting bracket 38 to limit the downward pivotal movement of the manually operated knob 41 during lowering movement of the carriage. The lever 37 also includes afinger 43 extending laterally therefrom and adapted, when the carriage is lowered, to engage beneath a hook 44 which provides a downwardly facing latch surface 45 formed adjacent the upper end of a latch lever 46. i

This latch lever 46 is elongated vertically and is supported at its lower end for pivotal movement and for limited vertical movement by a support member 47. secured to the lower horizontal flange 21 of the partition 18. The pivotal and limited sliding connection between the latch lever 46 and the support 47 is effected by a headed pin 48 carried by the support 47 and extending through an elongated slot 49 in the lower portion of the latch lever 46. However, it will be apparent that the connection also may be effected by having the pin carried by the latch lever and slidable in an elongatedslot provided in the support 47.

A tension spring 51 is secured at one end to a lug 52 formed on the latch lever 46 and secured at its other end, at a lower level, to a support member 53, carried by the horizontal flange 21 of the vertical partition. This tension spring 51 serves to bias the latch lever to the lower limit of its limited vertical movement and also to bias it in a 3 clockwise direction about its pivotal mounting at 48, as viewed in FIG. 1. i i p The latch lever includes a shoulder 54 extending forwardly toward the casing end wall 12 and providing an upwardly facing latch surface. 55 engaged by a detent 56 carried at the upper free end of a bimetallic member 57 of inverted U-shape. Preferably, the detent 56 is of nonelectrically conductive material and the bimetallic member 57 is of electrically conductive material and serves as a self-heater in that the-lower ends of its two legs are connectedby wires 58 with a suitable sourceof, electrical energy. The lower ends of. the legs of the bimetallic member are fixedly secured to the support 47 in electrically insulated relation thereto.

The bimetallic member 57 is so constructed that when electrical current is passed therethrough via the wires 58, the heat generated in the. bimetallic member causes its free end to deflect in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby moving the. detent 56 to a position where it overlies a notch 59 providedin the shoulder 54.

With the carriage latched in its lower toasting position as illustrated'in FIG..1, and-with the bimetallic member 57 heated until it has deflected sufiiciently to locate the detent 56 in vertical alignment with the notch 59, the tension spring 36. will move the carriage 2 4 and the latch lever 46 upwardly-to the limited extent permitted by the length of the elongated slot 49 in the lower end of the latch lever 46. Novel circuitry control structure, to be hereinafter described, isv so related with respect to. the carriage and the latch lever 46 that the limited upward movement of these parts efiects interruption of the supply of electrical energy to the bimetallic. member 57 with the result that it cools down. During this cooling downoperation, it deflects counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 or away from the end wall 12.01: the casing until it has returned to its'original cold position. 'While; returning to its cold position the. detent-56bears against the side wall of the notch 59. and pivots: the, latch lever counterclock wise. about its pivotal connection at 48. until the hook portion 44 of the latch lever is disengaged from the finger 43 of the carriage lever 37, whereupon the carriage 24 is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing efiect of the tension spring, 36.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a description of the circuitry control referred to above. Thecontrol of the electrical circuitry is eifected' by a switch 61 contained in a housing 62, preferably of non-electrically conductive material, and includes a pair of transversely extending vertically spaced resilient upper and lower contact carrying arms 63 and- 64, respectively. These arms are joined at one end by a common interconnecting portion 65 by which they are mounted on an end wall ofthe casing 62, preferably by a rivet 50 whose outer end also secures the electrical connection or wire 58. which leads to the bimetallic member or heater 57. The resilient arms 63 and 64 carry at their free ends oppositely disposed cone tacts 66 and '67, respectively, adapted :to engage fixed contacts 68 and 69, respectively.

An electrical conductor 70 connects'the fixed contact 68 with a source L1 of electrical energy and a conductor 71 connects the fixed contact 69 with themain heaters 34 which effect toasting of the bread. The conductor 71 is extended to complete the electrical circuit from the main heaters 34'to an electrical power source L2.

A plunger 72 is mounted to reciprocate vertically throughtheswitch housing. 62 and includes a head 73 at its upper end. A compression spring 74 surroundsthe plunger 72 between the head 73 and the switch casing 62 and serves to bias the plunger to the upper limit of its vertical movement. The plunger carries a projection 76, disposed between the resilient contact carrying arms 63 and 64 and adapted, when the plunger is at the upper limit of its reciprocable movement, to. separate the contacts 66 from the contact 68, thcrebyinterruptinathe circuit to L1. When the plunger 72 is at the lower limit of its reciproc-able movement, the projection '76 thereon biases the arm 64 downwardly to separate the contact 67 from the contact 69, thereby interrupting the circuit from this last-mentioned contact to the main heaters and directing flow of current) through the connection '58 and the bi-metallic member 57 to the main heaters 34- and the power source L2.

When the plunger 72 is at a position intermediate its extremes of movement, the projection '76 thereof is out of engagement with both of the resilient arms 63 and 64 and the inherent resiliency of the arms results in engagement of the contacts 66 and 68. and of the contacts 67 and 69, thereby providing a direct circuit from L1 through the conductor 70, the. contacts 68 and 66, the arm 63, the intermediate. portion 65, the arm 64, the contacts 67 and 69 and the conductor 71 to the main heaters 34 and thence to L2, thereby shunting out the. bimetallic heater 57.

The switch 6 1 is so disposed with respect to the carriage 24 that when the carriage is moved to its lowermost toasting position, as shown in F163. 1 and 5, some,

portion of the carriage or of structure carried. thereby will engage the head 73 of the plunger '72, thereby depressing the latter and separating the contacts 67 and 69 and effecting engagement of the contacts 66v and 68-, thus establishing a circuit to the main heaters-S i'via the bimetallic heater 57 Operation To operate the toaster, slices of bread are inserted through the slots 14 in the top of the casing 10 where they are supported by the support bars 31 between the heating elements 34. The user thereafter manually lowers the carriage from the non-toasting position illustrated schematically in FIG. 4 to the toasting position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 by depressing the carriage lever 37 through the knob 41. This movement of the knob 41 causes the finger 43 on the carriage lever 37 to slide downwardly over the inclined upper end of the latch lever 46, pivoting the latter counterclockwise as viewed in the various figures until the finger 43 has dropped below the hook Mon the latch lever, whereupon the tension spring 51 biases the latch lever clockwise to engage the hook 44- over the finger 43, to "retain the carriage lever and the carriage in the lower toasting position.

As the carriage reaches its lowermost toasting position it engages the plunger 72 of the switch 61, depressing the plunger with the result that the projection 76 thereof moves out of engagement with the flexible arm 63, permitting the contacts 66 and 68 to'engage. At the same time the projection 76 of the plunger engages the resilient arm 64 and cfifects separation of the contact 67 from the contact 69. Thus, an electrical circuit is established from L1 through the conductor 70, the contacts 63 and 66, the arm 63, the rivet 50, the conductor or wire 55* the bimetallic member 57, the continuation of wire 58, the conductor 71, the main heaters 34 and again the conductor71 to L2. The main heaters provide heat for toasting the'bread and the bimetallic member 57 is heated and deflectsclockwise as viewed in the various figures until the detent 56 carried thereby is disposed vertically above the notch 59 in the shoulder 54 of the latch lever 46. Previously, the latch lever had been retained at the lower limit. of its limited vertical movement by the engagement of the detent 56 with the upwardly facing latch surface 55 of the finger 54. The latch lever now moves upwardly the limited amount permitted by the length of the slot 49 at its lower end, with the detent 56 being regages the contact 69 thereby providing a circuit which shunts out the bimetallic member 57. This shunting circuit is from L1 through conductor 70, contacts 68 and 66, arm 63 intermediate portion 65, arm 64, contacts 67 and 69, and conductor 71 tothe main heaters to L2.

With the bimetallic member 57 shunted out of the electrical circuit, it cools down, and deflects in the opposite direction to' return the detent 56 carried thereby to its original cold position. Since the detent 56 is now disposed in the notch 59, the detent engagesthe side wall of the notch and forces the latch lever 46 counterclockwise about its pivot 48 until the hook 44 of the latch lever is disengaged from the finger 43 of the carriage latch 47. As soon as this disengagement is effected, the carriage 24 is free to move upwardly to its non-toasting position under the influence of the tension spring 36.

This upward movement of the carriage 24 permits the plunger 72 of the switch 61 to return to its uppermost position under the biasing effector the compression spring 74, whereupon the projection 76 of the plunger raises the resilient arm 63 and separates the contacts 66 and 68,

thereby interrupting the circuit to power source I11 and thus completing a toasting cycle and placing the mechanism in condition for a subsequent toasting operation.

In order that the user may vary the degree of toasting effected, there is provided suitable mechanism, such as an adjusting knob 80, rotation of which rotates a screw 81 carried .by the support member 53, and whose inner end abuts against the lug 52 of the latch lever 46 to vary its pivotal position. By turning the knob;80 clockwise, the screw 81, which has left-hand threads, will be moved outwardly, thereby permitting adjustment of the latch lever 46 clockwise as viewed in 'FIG[ 1 with the result that the notch 59 is spaced further from the detent 56, with the result that the detent must travel that much further before it is aligned with the notch to permit termination of the heating of the bimetallic member 57. Consequently, a longer heating cycle or toasting operation is provided, resulting in darker toast. Conversely, counterclockwise rotation of the adjustment knob 80 will produce lighter colored toast by reducing the toasting period as a result of positioning the detent 56 closer to the notch 59.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, means for retaining said carriage in said lower toasting position and for releasing it therefrom comprising a latch lever, stationary supporting structure, means providing a lost motion connection between said latch lever and said supporting structure for pivotal movement and limited longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, a finger mounted on the carriage and adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-downtype comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to the stationary supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch leverat one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement, means responsive to movement of said latch lever to said other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, whereby cooling of said bimetallic member is effected, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during deflection in said opposite direction engaging said latch lever and pivoting the latter to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing eflfect of the carriage biasing means.

2. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage toward non-toasting position, means for retaining said carriage in said lower toasting position and for releasing it therefrom comprising a latch lever, stationary supporting structure, means providing a lost motion connection between said latch lever and said supporting structure for pivotal movement and limited longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, saidlatch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, an arm mounted on the carriage and including a finger adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to the stationary supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement, means responsive to movement of said latch lever to said other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, whereby cooling of said bimetallic member is effected, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during such deflection in said opposite direction engaging said latch lever and pivoting the latter to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means.

3. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, stationary supporting structure, a latch lever having an elongated slot through its lower end whose larger dimension extends longitudinally of the latch lever, means cooperating with said slot for mounting the latch lever on said supporting structure for pivotal movement and for limited longitudinal movement, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, an arm pivotally mounted on the carriage and. including a finger adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever for retaining the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to said supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly fac ing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch leverto move to the other of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, thereby efiecting cooling of said bimetallic member withconsequent deflection thereof in the opposite direction, the detent during such 7 deflection in said opposite direction abutting said latch lever and pivoting the latter to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means.

4. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, means for retaining said carriage in said lower toasting position and for releasing it therefrom comprising a latch lever, stationary supporting structure, means providing a lost motion connection between said latch lever and said supporting structure for pivotal movement and limited longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, an arm mounted on the carriage and including a finger adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to the stationary supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement as a result 'of force applied by the carriage biasing means. through said carriage and carriage arm, means responsive to. movement of said latch lever to said otherlimit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, whereby cooling ofv said bimetallic member is effected, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during such deflection in said opposite direction engaging said latch lever and pivoting the latter about its connection with the supporting structure to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means.

In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, a stationary supporting bracket, a latch lever having an elongated slot through its lower end-whose larger dimension extends longitudinally of the latch lever, means carried by the supporting bracket and extending through the elongated slot for mounting the latch lever for pivotal movement and for limiting longitudinal movement, said latch leverhaving a downwardly facing latch surface, an arm pivotally mounted on the carriage and including .a finger adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the large'lever when the carriage is in its lower toasting position for retention of the carriage in that,

position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating saidbimetallic member, said detent engagingthe upwardly facing latch surface. of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the heatup period of operation of the. vcontrol to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement, means responsive to movement of said latch lever to said other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering th'e heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative to produce cooling of said bimetallic member, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during such deflection in said opposite direction engaging said latch lever and pivoting the latterto disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means.

6. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, means for retaining said carriage in said lower toasting position and for releasing it therefrom comprising a latch lever, stationarysupporting structure, means providing a lost motion connection between said latch lever and said supporting structure for pivotal movement and limited longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, an arm mounted on the carriage and including a finger adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to the stationary supporting structure and a de tent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, meansfor heating gsaid bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever .at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the, heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement, means responsive to movementof said latch lever to said other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, whereby cooling of said bimetallic member is effected, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during such deflection in said opposite direction engaging said latch lever and pivoting the latter to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper nontoasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means, and manually adjustable means'for varying the degree of engagement of the detent with the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever, whereby the length of the heat-up period and consequently of the toasting period is varied.

7. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, stationary supporting structure, a latch lever having an elongated slot through its lower end whose larger dimension extends longitudinally of the latch lever, means cooperating with said slot for mounting the latch lever on said supporting structure for pivotal movement and for limited longitudinal movement, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, an arm pivotally mounted on the carriage and including a finger'adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever for retaining the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising a bimetallic member fixed at one end to said supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end ofthe' bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said member deflecting, during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said, detent from said upwardly facing surface to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, thereby effecting cooling of said bimetallic member with consequent deflection thereof in the opposite direction, the detent during such deflection in said opposite direction abutting said latch lever and pivoting the latter to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger of the pivotally mounted carriage arm, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means, and means biasing the latch lever towards said one limit of its longitudinal movement.

8. In a toaster, a carriage movable between an upper non-toasting position and a lower toasting position, means biasing the carriage towards non-toasting position, means for retaining said carriage in said lower toasting position and for releasing it therefrom comprising a latch lever, stationary supporting structure, means providing a lost motion connection between said latch lever and said supporting structure for pivotal movement and limited longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, said latch lever having a downwardly facing latch surface and an upwardly facing latch surface, a finger mounted on the carriage and adapted to be engaged by the downwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever to retain the carriage in its lower toasting position, a thermally responsive control of the heat-up cool-down type comprising. a bimetallic member fixed at one end to the stationary supporting structure and a detent carried by the other end of the bimetallic member, means for heating said bimetallic member, said detent engaging the upwardly facing latch surface of the latch lever when said member is cool to retain said latch lever at one limit of its longitudinal movement, said upwardly facing latch surface having a notch therein, said member deflecting during the heat-up period of operation of the control to disengage said detent from said upwardly facing surface by moving the detent into alignment with said surface notch to permit said latch lever to move to the other limit of its longitudinal movement, means responsive to movement of said latch lever to said other limit of its longitudinal movement for rendering the heating means for the bimetallic member inoperative, whereby cooling of said bimetallic member is effected, cooling of said member causing the latter to deflect in the opposite direction, the detent during deflection in said opposite direction engaging a side Wall of said notch and pivoting said latch lever to disengage the downwardly facing latch surface thereof from the finger, whereby said carriage is free to return to its upper non-toasting position under the biasing effect of the carriage biasing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

